Rate My Professor Monwabisi Ralarala

Professor Monwabisi Knowledge Ralarala is Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of the Western Cape, a position he has held since April 2025. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at UWC. His academic qualifications include a Higher Diploma in Education (Arts) and a Bachelor of Arts Honours with emphasis in Language and Education from the University of the Western Cape, a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Language Studies from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Arts in African Languages from the University of Stellenbosch, a Doctor of Literature in African Languages from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Language Practice with emphasis in Forensic Linguistics and Translation Studies from the University of the Free State.

Professor Ralarala’s research interests include language rights and multilingualism in higher education, forensic linguistics, and translation studies. He has authored and co-edited several books, including African language and language practice research in the 21st century: Interdisciplinary themes and perspectives (2017), New frontiers in forensic linguistics: Themes and perspectives in language and law in Africa and beyond (2019), Knowledge beyond colour lines: Towards repurposing knowledge generation in South African higher education (2021), A handbook on legal languages and the quest for linguistic equality in South Africa and beyond (2021), Language and the Law: Global Perspectives in Forensic Linguistics from Africa and beyond (2022), Language, Crime and Courts in Contemporary Africa and Beyond (2023), and Unlocking the chains of knowledge: Understanding the challenges, remaking pedagogies and curriculum renewal (2024). He is the founder and chief series editor of Studies in Forensic and Legal Linguistics in Africa and beyond, serves as an international advisory board member to the International Journal for the Semiotics of Law, and is Chairperson of the African Association for Forensic and Legal Linguists. He is also the first Chairperson of the South African Language Practitioners’ Council. In 2017, he received the Neville Alexander Award for the Promotion of Multilingualism. He is an alumnus of the Canon Collins Educational and Legal Assistance Trust.